APC National Secretary has revealed party’s position on Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has declared that the issue of who would be the presidential running mate for 2027 is not ripe for discussion yet.
This is as he affirmed the party’s overwhelming decision and endorsement of President Bola Tinubu to be the APC flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on Friday during an interview appearance on Channels Television, the APC scribe stated that discussions on who will be Tinubu’s running mate are not yet on the table.
ALSO: Kogi Governor Ododo Identifies Major Cause Of Insecurity In North Central
He added that the issue of Tinubu’s running mate would be decided after the party’s convention, which is usually held about one year before the general election.
“As far as we are concerned, the national summit held in the Presidential Villa has endorsed Mr President based on his track record and a large spectrum of stakeholders in our party have also overwhelmingly given endorsement to Mr president.
“The question of running mate is not yet onboard and nobody has come to say that the president has made any adverse decision as regards the present vice president.”
The Gombe Episode
Speaking further, Basiru submitted that the chaos that erupted on Sunday, June 15, during an APC Northeast stakeholders meeting in Gombe State, following the endorsement of Tinubu for a second term without any mention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, is a non-issue.
The APC National Secretary said he was physically present at the event, and it is normal for people to have different views at such a gathering.
He added that the issue of a running mate can’t come up until the party’s candidate emerges.
According to him, the national APC would not get itself involved in the politics of the North-East.
“People in a democratic setting are born to have different opinions.
“As far as I am concerned, there was no issue. I was physically present in Gombe State. After the summit, we had a reception at the Government House.
“Some people in the North East felt that it suffice to give endorsement to the president and then the president will be in a position to decide who would be his running mate in 2027.
“Some other people are of the view that it is also important that since the summit is being held in the North East, the vice president, coming from the North-East, should equally have an endorsement.
“What I know is that even at the national convention where a candidate for the presidential election will emerge, it is only the presidential candidate that will emerge at the convention.
“The running mate issue will be done after that. As far as our party is concerned, we have not made any statement or got ourselves involved in the politics of the North-East,” Basiru said.